Thursday, May 28, 2009

Well, we've been out of school for longer than we care to admit, but that doesn't mean we can't fully appreciate the exuberance of youth! There's an electric vibe rippin' through town and that can only mean one thing: Summer is about to make its grand debut. The overflow of cool events and the potential for outdoor carousing is seemingly endless, and we can't wait to partake!

xo-l'étoile

THURSDAY MAY 28TH (THROUGH SATURDAY)

Heliotrope 6

@ Ritz Theater345 13th Ave NEMinneapolis

6pm-12am / All Ages / $8 per day

Heliotrope, the annual three-day exhibition of contemporary underground music is back for its sixth experimental year of extreme variations in sound and styles that would make even the average Turf Club patron plug their ears. Set against a backdrop of surreal video art, noisy favorites Vampire Hands, Skoal Kodiak and Knife World highlight the weekend long festival.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE RITZ SITE

THURSDAY MAY 28TH

Santigold

@ First Ave701 First AvenueMinneapolis

6pm / 18+ / $22

The artist formerly known as Santogold (hey, if Diddy did it, so can Santigold!) will be rocking the mainroom tonight in all her neon-leggings-with-frosted-jean-cutoffs-and-gold-door-knocker-earrings glory, offering an endless cache of alarmingly catchy, genre busting tunes that will keep you guessing what will be thrown your way next. Amanda Blank & Trouble Andrew kick off the show.

BONUS: Official after party at the Bedlam hosted by unstoppable party throwers Burlesque and Louder Than Bombs. With Devlin & Darko (DJs for Spankrock and Amanda Blank) Trouble Andrew, Plain Ole Bill & Jimmy 2 Times, and Mike the 2600 King manhandling the decks all night. 10pm / 18+ / $3 with Santigold ticket stub, $5 without

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SANTIGOLD MYSPACE

THURSDAY MAY 28TH

RIP: A Remix Manifesto

@ Trylon Screening Room2820 E. 33rd St. Minneapolis

8-10pm / $5

When it comes to consuming and creating in this age of information, the discrepancies between reproduction, piracy, inspiration and infringement are constantly up for debate. Adding to this debate is the media experimental documentary, RIP: A Remix Manifesto, from web activist and filmmaker, Brett Gaylor. Tonight, Sound Unseen presents a special screening of this culture-critical project that focuses on mash-up musician and sample artist, Girl Talk and explores the issues of copyright in the 20th century media landscape. From day one of the film's creation, Gaylor has shared his raw footage at opensourcecinema.org, without copyright, for anyone to pull up and remix, creating a movie-as-mash-up method of filming and allowing the mixes to become an integral part of the film. Creative Commons founder, Lawrence Lessig, Brazil's Minister of Culture and pop culture critic, Cory Doctorow help answer the question "is this remix obsessed culture the epitome of power to the people or just a huddled mass following the Pied Piper of piracy?" The Trylon Screening Room's intimate venue size only allows for 60 peeps, so snag your tickets quick HERE.

FRIDAY ART PICK: SOO KIM

A New York artist originally from Seoul, Korea, Soo Kim makes drawings, prints and paintings of microcosms and dreamscapes. In her colorful works, imaginary worlds intersect with characters and their back stories. She’s exhibited all around the world, and if she ever shows in the Twin Cities, she’ll already have a dedicated fan base in l'étoile!

Check out this interview with Soo Kim in one of our fave rags, Bust Magazine.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SOO KIM SITE

FRIDAY MAY 29TH (THROUGH SUNDAY)

MN Homegrown Music Festival

@ El Rancho MananaRichmond, MN

Fri 5pm-11pm, Sat 11am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm /$15 for one day

No less than 24 Minnesota bluegrass and old timey bands want to show you a weekend of fiddles, banjos and washboards. Make a weekend of it by camping, taking a workshop, throwing down in a jam session and eating some food at this annual fest! Campfires, good music and good company are promised on this kickoff to the summer bluegrass festival season. Through Sunday, May 31st.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE MN BLUEGRASS SITE

FRIDAY MAY 29TH

Brad Senne CD Release Party

@ Kitty Cat Klub14th & 4thDinkytown Mpls

9:30 p.m. / 21+

Our pal Brad Senne has been a busy bee this year! His new album, Aerial Views, is a fresh collection of sweet indie pop gems that will definitely be on l'étoile's heavy rotation this summer. These are tunes we can imagine waking up on a Sunday morning to, or driving around in the rain to. The kind of music that creates pretty little memory pockets; reminders of summer lovin' and dreamy interludes of time passed. Not to mention, Senne's equally talented lady-love, local art darling Jennifer Davis did the cute-enough-to-frame cover art for the new album! Head to the Kitty Cat tonight, pick up a CD, and hear Brad perform live, accompanied by Ben Durrant on guitar and Ryan Lovan on drums. Local bands Ballast and Unguided kick things off.

Click HERE for the Brad Senne Myspace page to check out tunes from Aerial Views!

Video by Dante della Maggiore

FRIDAY MAY 29TH

Familia True Heads Vol. 3 series Release party

@ Nami251 1st Ave NMinneapolis

9pm-2am / Free / 21+

True Heads is Familia Skate Shop's version of the Grammys for local skateboarding. An ongoing series dedicated to honoring those in the skate scene that help it along, promote, or push it in some way. Tonight 4 more important players in the scene will be honored with their own boards, flowin' cocktails, and DJ Millions Billions on the turntables. So kick/push your ass over to Nami tonight and pay homage!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FAMILIA SITE

FRIDAY MAY 29TH

Fischerspooner

@ First Ave701 First AvenueMinneapolis

8pm / 18+ / $25

Fischerspooner have built their quirky reputation around seeing just how far they can increase the boundaries of dance music. By providing knob-tweaking know-how for epic electro-clash bangers, this dramatic duo guarantees a truly spectacular event packed to the brim with elaborate costumes and props, experimental choreography, and of course loads of overt lip-synching. Cross over to the 7th Street Entry to rock out with High on Stress, The Glad Version, The Moodswings, and the Snaps!

BONUS: This raging party resumes at the Saloon after the show, with a DJ set by the boys of Fischerspooner themselves!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FISCHERSPOONER MYSPACE

FRIDAY MAY 29TH

BOMP!

@ Bedlam Theater1501 S. 6th StreetWest Bank Minneapolis

10:30 p.m. / 18+ / $5

Phew. There are enough dance parties this week to (almost) make up for all that sitting around you did this past winter! The decision making process may even be too much, too soon for some of you hibernators. However, when you pair some of the hottest local DJs with the most radical performance space in the Twin Cities, the result is one hell of a wicked dance party that you ought not miss. A melting pot of scenesters from all castes seem to come together each month for this epic throw down; bond in sweat with punks, fashionistas, lezzies, art nerds, the lenseless glasses/neon bandanna set and a wide variety of randoms! Dance your lights out in the main room with Chicago's DJ Zebo along with The Moongoons, Shannon Blowtorch and your fabulous hosts Mike the 2600 King and Wes Winship. You can also opt to kick it in the Fire Place Lounge where Attitude City, Plain Ole Bill and Jimmy 2 Times make sexy noise with all vinyl sets all night long.

Co-Sponsored by l'étoile magazine, yo!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BEDLAM SITE

COOL LINK: SAINT PAUL STAYCATION

Looking for a little travel adventure this season, but your pocket funds aren't cooperating? Look no further than your own backyard. By now, no doubt you've heard this term pop-up in conversation. The word “staycation” - coined for a vacation spent close to home - has been gaining popularity with cities nationwide and this year St. Paul has jumped on the bandwagon. Hoping to create a bit more Summer revenue for local businesses, states are encouraging residents to forgo those outrageous trips this year and enjoy the amenities your city has to offer. It's a chance to explore your roots and regain that “honeymoon” love your city once brought you. St. Paul's STAYcation blog is everything you need to know about our beloved sister city. Featuring a buzzworthy and under the radar guide to restaurants, clubs, festivals, outdoor activities, family fun, style and nightlife in the St. Paul area. Check out twice-weekly posts from l'étoile's own Kate Iverson, Jahna Peloquin and Juleana Enright, as well as local writers Alisa Blackwood and Todd Smith. Keep glued to St. Paul Staycation blog all Summer long because this year the hottest action is right here at home.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE STAYCATION SITE

SATURDAY MAY 30th

Naturally

@ Back Alley Gallery262 E 4th St. #LL2St. Paul

7pm-10pm / Free

David Witt (Dwitt) and fellow artist Christopher Bowman have been making art nonstop to bring you a stellar show tonight. They’ll show solo work and collaborations, including the biggest painting either one has made in over a decade. It’s no secret Dwitt rocks our world with his prolific output of snazzy rock posters and illustrations, so stop by Lowertown tonight and see what this awesome artist and his talented cohort have been up to.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR MORE INFO

SATURDAY MAY 30TH

Mike Moore, Richard Hall, & Joel Zinnel

@ Mill District Arts Gallery1023 Washington AveMinneapolis

7pm-9pm / Free

You’ve got just one night to see photography by Mike Moore, Richard Hall, and Joel Zinnel. And if you want to see the work for more than one night, buy a piece! It will all be for sale of course, so have a drink, think it over, and then invest in some local photography and impress all your art-lovin' friends.

Featuring the new works of artists Drew Peterson and Kristina Paabus, tonight's opening of Formidable Flats explores spacial relations in the “real” world and on paper. With Peterson's colorful, deftly-lined prints and Paabus' felt, cellophane and wire installations, the artists create a detailed “Magic Eye-esque” trippy world. Special music sets from Cecil Otter (of Doomtree) and the BRLSQOTHEQUE DJs.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM

SATURDAY MAY 30TH

El Circo Art Exhibit

@ California Building Gallery2205 California St. NE Minneapolis

7-11pm / Free

In the exhibit, El Circo, visual artists Xavier and Maria Cristina Tavera dig deeper into the underground community of the circus and street performer and how it relates to the Latino community. Through a series of narrative photographs, Xavier Tavera juxtaposes the everyday lives of Latinos with the darling spectacle world of circus performers, highlighting the similarities between social outcasts in both worlds, while Maria Cristina Tavera's complimentary paintings reflect the nonconformist, communal and cooperative lifestyle of the circus realm. Theatrical performances by local Latino circus performers, El Barrilito clown and Sinjun the Contortionist open the show. Runs through June 13th.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR MORE INFO

SATURDAY MAY 30TH

2531

@ 2531 Quincy Street NEMinneapolis

6-10pm / Free

Who is Gudrun Lock? We're really not sure. Gleaning a sparse amount of info from the web on this elusive creative, we've been able to cobble together that: A. Gudrun Lock is a pretty cool artist and B. She fancies her home a contemporary art gallery. These, of course, are two things we can definitely get behind. Head Northeasy tonight for a peek into the inner sanctum of this quirky artist, whose one-weekend-only exhibit draws on elements within the home itself. The invite says, to "bring your own beverage." So load up your backpack with ironic malt liquor and get arting!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR NOT A LOT MORE INFO

SATURDAY MAY 30TH

Dearling Physique + Bella Koshka

@ The Entry 701 1st Ave. N. Minneapolis

9pm / 18+/ $6

Tonight, First Ave will be bopping from both sides as local synthesized ambient rockers, Dearling Physique and the organic electronic melodies of Bella Koshka inflict the Entry stage with a symphony of electronic energy. With openers, concrete experimental band, Dada Trash Collage.

Bonus: Already at First Ave for the (sold out) Yeah Yeah Yeah's mainroom show? Enjoy a discounted crossover charge. And after that $25 YYY ticket, a few extra bucks is really just chump change.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FIRST AVE SITE

SATURDAY MAY 30TH

Gogol Bordello

@ Cabooze Parking Lot917 Cedar Ave SMinneapolis

6pm / All Ages / $24

Gogol Bordello’s live show is an off-the-hizzy party from start to finish. We’re not talking about a crazy shindig where jock rockers smash beer cans over their heads. No. Gogol Bordello whips the crowd into a frenzy with thought-provoking lyrics, weaving heated social and political commentary into their lively communal gypsy-punk anthems. Each and every Bordello jam is literally oozing with passion as if possessed by some kind of supercharged gyspy spirit. It’s raw, it’s sexual, and it’s everything you need to experience after a long winter in Minneapolis. Get there early to catch awesome openers Man Man.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE GOGOL BORDELLO MYSPACE

SATURDAY MAY 30TH

Attitude City

@ Clubhouse Jager913 Washington AveMinneapolis

10pm / 21+ / Free

The Attitude City boys are back at Jager once again for their monthly mix of badditude to blow up the dance floor with a carefully curated cache of beats, creating the perfect setting to get buck wild. Hands down one of our favorite parties of the month!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ATTITUDE CITY SITE

SATURDAY MAY 30TH

Session 8

@ The Kitty Cat Klub14th & 4thDinkytown Mpls

We can always count on O.G. Minneapolis party starter DJ Bach to bring the funnin'. Head to the Kitty Cat Klub tonight for The Embassy's bi-annual dance off featuring the hotness that is Bach and electro wonder-kid DJ Taitan on the turntables all night long. The Embassy is a collective devoted to "connecting the world: one Minnesotan at a time." How? Through partying, of course!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FACEBOOK EVENT

SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: PASSION PIT

If you have never heard the song "Sleepyhead" by Passion Pit, stop reading this right now, slap yourself, pay a little visit to their Myspace, and CRANK your speakers. Now that we’re all caught up let’s get to it. If MGMT got together with Postal Service for a few drinks and decided to create music that balanced out batshit crazy with bespectacled yearning, the result might sound something like Passion Pit. Their debut album is out now on Frenchkiss. Check it!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE PASSION PIT MYSPACE

TUESDAY JUNE 2ND

JagerCon: Sci-Fi Tuesdays

@ Clubhouse Jager923 Washington Avenue N.Minneapolis

Every Tuesday10 p.m. / 21+ / Free

Join hosts Kate Iverson (l'étoile magazine, Secrets of the City) and Beth Hammarlund (l'étoile magazine, A Tiny Machine) every Tuesday Night for JagerCon! JagerCon is a weekly sci-fi party featuring screenings of classic nerdy movies and television shows such as Buffy, Firefly, V, Star Trek, Blade Runner, Forbidden Planet and more -- topped off with 2-4-1 cocktails all night served by Star Captain Paul!

Mingle with like-minded sci-fi geeks, discuss D&D strategies, and use that Captain Picard impression you've been perfecting to pick up chicks at the bar. Snort-laugh the night away while bragging about your MMORPG addiction and enjoy a cozy, nerd-friendly environment.

Kate and Beth are life-long sci-fi fans who also dabble in art and fashion. They appreciate Joss Whedon, Karl Lagerfeld, and Matthew Barney on the same level. They can also party like Sci-Fi Conventioneers. Kate and Beth strive to unite the segmented nerd culture of the Twin Cities the only way they know how: with alcohol and awesome Sci-Fi entertainment.

There are certain inevitabilities one has to accept in life. You're going to hear "Let Me Clear My Throat" every time you go to a basketball game. You'll never get a good chance to raid Diane Kruger's closet. And you sure as hell won't get a Green Lantern movie starring Nathan Fillion. But fear not my little nerdy friends, for there are always those nerdier than you out there on the interwebs. And one of those nerdy people made a mock Green Lantern trailer using Nathan Fillion clips from Firefly and special effects sequences from Star Trek. It almost made me tear up.

I was lead stylist for the annual RetroRama fashion show at the Minnesota History Center on May 21, and it turned out marvelously. (I styled the vintage looks, while the designers styled their own looks.) The show was held under a tent on the grass as the sun was setting; it really couldn't have been any more magical.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

If you've got one of those pesky Monday through Friday jobs, you're probably rejoicing in the fact that you've got Monday off. And lucky for you, this weekend is packed with a healthy abundance of potential hijinx. From dance parties to theater, and art events to outdoor hip hop fests, l'étoile expects you'll find something to go buck-wild about. The official transition to summer is upon us -- and Monday's Memorial Day holiday kicks it all off, so don't forget the sunblock!

xo-l'étoile

THURSDAY MAY 21ST

RetroRama

@ Minnesota History Center 345 Kellogg Blvd W. St. Paul, MN

7-11pm / $15 ($12 MNHS Members)

Fashion trends are like a revolving door – what goes through eventually must come back out, although hopefully a bit more refined. With a tagline, “Fashion Comes Full Circle,” this year's annual RetroRama fashion show has decade evolution and style recycling theme in mind. Produced by Anna Lee and hosted in an outdoor tent on the Minnesota History Center grounds, RetroRama guarantees to be a “back to the future-esque” fashion experience where style retrospect is the inspiration. Local vintage-adoring designers, Ivan Idland, Max Lohrbach, Calpurnia Peach, Sarah Holm and Abigail Caperton will be showcasing their revamped takes on individual decades - from the 1920s through the 1960s, styled by the lovely dames of Eclecticoiffeur. DJ Jake Rudh pumps out the catwalk jams while you sip on cocktails from the Bradstreet Crafthouse, enjoy live music from A Night in the Box and sift through stylish goodies from local vintage boutiques Swank Retro and Via's Vintage Wear.

BONUS: Need a little help deciding what to wear to this year's retrorific shindig? Visit our own Jahna Peloquin's blog at St. Paul's stpaulstaycation.com for fashionista tips, including how to pick a decade-inspired look that best fits your style. Also read blogs by l'étoile's Kate Iverson and Juleana Enright, while you're there!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE RETRORAMA SITE

THURSDAY MAY 21ST

Alphabet Keychain Release Party

@ ROBOTlove2648 Lyndale Ave SMinneapolis

6-8pm / Free

The illustrious DJ and Burlesque of North America designer Mike Davis (you know, the 2600 King) has teamed up with Kid Robot to release a series of zipper pulls based on the whimsical illustrations from his Alphabet poster - the perfect accoutrement to your American Apparel hoodie. Grab all 26! There will be live in-store DJ sets from Kenny Kingston and Jimmy 2 Times, and Burlesque will be giving out tons of free stuff and debuting a brand new art print designed by Mike Davis as well.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ROBOTLOVE SITE

THURSDAY MAY 21ST

Slap!

@ Kitty Cat Klub313 14th Ave SEMinneapolis

10pm / 21+ / Free

After partying down ROBOTLove style at the Alphabet Keychain release party, go get slap happy at the Kitty Cat Klub with unstoppable ménage Tendercakes and Millz Billz, this month accompanied by super special guest Wes Winship. These bad-asses are constantly finding newer, kinkier ways of mashing up hip-hop, dance music, and rock ’n’ roll, making it nearly impossible to have a bad time. And as always, Slap will include jams, drinks, dancing, laughs, DJs, photos, kisses and lots o' SLAPS!

SLAP! is sponsored by l'étoile magazine!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE KITTY CAT KLUB SITE

THURSDAY MAY 21ST

Punk Rock Poetry Night

@ Gallery 13811 Lasalle AveMinneapolis

7pm / Free

Gallery 13 is going all out. Grant Hart and Mary Jane Mansfield host this artist salon and poetry night, featuring an artist's talk, a performance of Dada Café, and readings and songs by local poets. What makes it punk rock you wonder? Other than the veteran of punk rock, Mr. Grant Hart himself, the attitude of the night embodies rock and roll at its most artistic.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE GALLERY 13 SITE

FRIDAY ART PICK: BRIAN WALKER

Contemporary photographer Brian Walker creates playfully kitschy scenes that fuse illustration and fashion with a surrealist element of surprise. His latest series, aptly titled Plastic Fantastic, features compositions such as battery packed human figurines, fur clad models destined for the meat market, and a post modern take on nursery rhymes. His own website offers this amazingly poignant description: "Viewing this work is the equivalent of a photographic excursion into the mind of a serial filler of funtime plastic-fantastic realities. Brian Walker is a world renowned digital artist, with a playfully kitsch postmodern view on the world at large. View them with a grain of salt in hand ready to rub into your own proverbial visual wound that he taketh pleasure in inflicting"

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BRIAN WALKER SITE

FRIDAY MAY 22ND

Go Live III

@ FIVETWOSIX526 Selby Ave St. Paul, MN

6-10pm / Free

In live art, there are no mistakes only new creative junctions. Witness the impromptu work of local artists in the third installation of Go Live at St. Paul's FiveTwoSix Gallery. Featuring a collaborative painting and music from artists MJ Heubach and Booka B, experimental art from MCAD grad, Aron Taylor and avant-garde creations by 526 stylists working their magic on live models showcasing the designs of Brittany Hughes and Renalie Bailey. Inspire some creativity as you sample snacks and sip delectable wine from St. Paul wine hub, Solo Vino.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR Past collaborative work from Heubach and Booka B

FRIDAY MAY 22ND

Freshcool

@ Cliche 2403 Lyndale Ave SMinneapolis

7pm/free

Artist and photographer Laura Hallen presents her new Photo-Plexibox paintings, layered multi-media studies on plants and organic existence in acrylic, plexiglass, beeswax and colored shellacs. In addition, Cliché is offering 10% off during the opening, and DJ Talk Radio spins while you sip wine and chomp appetizers. Gorgeous!

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM

FRIDAY MAY 22ND (THROUGH SATURDAY)

Ten Minute Play Festival

@ Bedlam Theatre1501 S 6th StMinneapolis

6pm & 8pm / $10 for one, $15 for both

We know it’s hard, considering your a.d.d., to sit through an entire play. That’s why the 8th Annual Community ten minute plays are perfect snack-sized productions. The plays are performed in four separate sets, so you can mix and match what you want to see. Each play is exactly ten minutes, and the definition of a play is loosely interpreted in some instances. Stop by early or stay late and munch on the Bedlam's Polish-inspired menu items.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BEDLAM SITE

FRIDAY MAY 22ND

Rebel Rebel: Rock for Pussy VI

@ First Ave701 1st Ave NorthMinneapolis

8pm / 18+ / $8

This Friday night, glitz, glitter and glam reign supreme at Rock For Pussy – the 6th annual tribute to David Bowie. Curated by 89.3 The Current fave Mary Lucia, sexy musical savants include Jeremy Messersmith, Jim Walsh, Chris Pavlich, Venus and All The Pretty Horses, Matt Coffee, Ciaran Daly, Dave Campbell, Liam Watkins, Lori Barbero (woo-hoo!), Marc Perlman, George Mckelvey, Laurie Lindeen, and Chris Lynch in a musical homage to the Thin White Duke himself. Dress up in your Bowie best and shakedown to the hottest glam jams provided by DJ Mark Wheat in between sets. All proceeds benefit the Minnesota Valley Humane Society Cat Shelter. Seriously people, who doesn’t want to help a bunch of destitute little pussies? Meow!

Over the years, musicians have made a plethora of bad choices. Guys with feathered and teased hair, uberly tight jumpsuits...Christmas tributes. And now The Museum of Bad Album Covers pulls another stack memorabilia out of the embarrassing music career closet these artists thought they could hide from. Browse through the gallery that boasts a display 156 of the most hideous, shocking and down right disturbing album covers in music history designed to “assault both your ears and your eyes at the same time.” Vote for your faves or buy a T-shirt featuring the “best” of the worst cover art from the gift shop.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WEBSITE

SATURDAY MAY 23RD

Ghost Comics Book Release Party

@ Arise Bookstore backyard2441 Lyndale Ave. S.Minneapolis

4pm / donation

Parties in Arise’s backyard equals summer, and book release parties with bands are the crème de la crème of this radical bookseller. Ghost Comics is a Xeric Award-winning comic anthology featuring a grip of comic artists, including Zak Sally, Ed Moorman and Will Dinski. It’s a big deal! Clamor around the artists for a signing at 4pm, get cozy at 5pm to listen to no less than seven bands, and stick around for the outdoor movie at 8:30. All proceeds from Ghost Comics benefit local substance abuse treatment facility RS Eden, so it's a win-win!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ARISE SITE

SATURDAY MAY 23RD

Lookbook

@ Turf Club1601 University Ave W St. Paul

9pm / 21+ / $5

l’étoile’s current fave band (and hopefully yours too), Lookbook, will be dishing out their impossibly addictive electro-pop beats at the Turf tonight, and we wouldn’t dare miss getting our fix. Drawing on influences as diverse as 80's pop, electronica, and modern indie rock, Lookbook creates a formula that captivates our ears every time we hear it. The utterly endearing duo of Grant Cutler and Maggie Morrison adds an impeccable style and unique flavor to their performance that we are simply gaga over. Openers We Are Hex and Kill to Kill kick things off.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE LOOKBOOK MYSPACE

SATURDAY MAY 23RD

Traffic Light Party

@ Clubhouse Jager 923 Washington Ave N. Minneapolis

10pm-2am / 21+/ Free

Admit it. Spring makes you...well, let's just say, HOT. But with all the ambiguous and drunken flirting going on in the club scene it's tough to know who's available and who has a large, jealous significant other waiting just around the corner. Luckily, Dirty McKenzie and Bass-United Recordings have devised a color-coded party that takes the guess work out of meeting hotties. How does it work? Wear green if you're single, red if you're taken, yellow if you're undecided, and none of the above if you're a killjoy. Dirty McKenzie and Slater & Walker spin the best in new wave, disco, 80's and 90's jams while you spend the night dancing among the rainbow of possibilities, care and fancy-free. A jealous ex-significant other, now that's another story.

Sponsored by your favorite matchmakers, l'étoile magazine!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FACEBOOK EVENT

SATURDAY MAY 23RD

Big Quarters CD Release Show

@ Triple Rock629 Cedar Ave S. Minneapolis

9pm / 18+/ $7

Local rappers and hip-hop debonairs, Big Quarters, celebrate the release of their sophomore album, From the Home of Brown Babies and White Mothers tonight, West Bank style. Known for their stage presence and energetic sound which incorporates all of the best aspects of rap from the last decade. On top of being critically acclaimed musicians, Big Quarters have collaborated with fellow hip hopper P.O.S., are regulars on campus airwaves Radio K, and are a fierce representation of the sort of smart heat the local rap scene is packing. Live sets from Mankwe Ndosi, Kill the Vultures, Alissa Paris, DJs Noam the Drummer, Todda, Benzilla and special guests.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BIG QUARTERS MYSPACE

SATURDAY MAY 23RD

West Rocks “U.S. of May” Party

@ Uptown Bar3018 Hennepin Ave. S. Minneapolis

9pm-2am/ 21+/ $5 with Flyer or RSVP

In the early winter months of '07, a club night devoted to exposing new talent emerged in West London. Two years later, it's become an infamous monthly dance extravaganza and live music showcase known simply by the moniker,“West Rocks.” Tonight, we're privy to a loving spoonful of the “rockin'” club party as West Rocks leaves its West London digs for a U.S. tour starting right here in MPLS. The MPLS installment features local acts, Guystorm, Idle Hands, Bouncer Fighter, Communist Daughter, Chelsea Boys, Camel of the Sea, Absent Arch and DJ sets from A-Ray, Guystorm, Solid Gold, Ryan PN and of course, charismatic party founder, Tara Rocks. We have a hunch Solid Gold's golden shoulder-rubbing connections at SXSW - where they shared a stage with West Rocks – are at least partly responsible for this party venturing to the Twin Cities. Kudos boys; we promise to take full advantage. RSPV @ westrocksguestlist@gmail.com for $5 cover charge.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WEST ROCKS MYSPACE

SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: MIKE WATT

Last Friday the Twin Cities was reminded of what pure punk rock is all about. Mike Watt rolled into town in his van, with a bass in his hand, to shake the 7th St. Entry. Without Watt’s bands The Minutemen, fIREHOSE, and work with Sonic Youth as Ciccone Youth, rock and roll wouldn’t exist as we know it today. An anchor necklace, a penchant for plaids, and his own vocabulary make him a character we adore. So, even if you missed last week's show (which was neglected by us due to Art-A-Whirl) we suggest you take a refresher course in good old fashioned rock n' roll a la Watt.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE MIKE WATT MYSPACE

SUNDAY MAY 24TH

Soundset

@ Canterbury Park1100 Canterbury Road SouthShakopee

11am-8pm / All Ages / $35

The second annual Soundset, self-described as the Official Mid-West Summer Kick-Off, is set to go down Sunday at Canterbury Park (of...um...horse racing fame) with eight raptastic hours of hip hop, b-boy battles, live DJs, a low-rider car show, skateboard demos, and plenty of awesome performances by a bevy of local and national artists including Atmosphere, The Pharcyde, MF Doom, Brother Ali, Sage Francis, Immortal Technique, P.O.S, El P with Mr. Dibbs, Eyedea & Abilities, Prince Paul, Buck 65, Blueprint, Heiruspecs, Sims of Doomtree, I Self Devine, Awol One, Mike Mictlan & Lazerbeak of Doomtree, Toki Wright, Grieves, Unknown Prophets, Plain Ole Bill, BK One, King Otto, and way more than we can list here. The fest is totally kid friendly, so bring your young’ns down for a rap spectacular on this lovely holiday weekend!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SOUNDSET MYSPACE

SUNDAY MAY 24TH

Gastro Non Grata

@ Triple Rock Social Club629 Cedar Ave SMinneapolis

6pm-10pm/$3 or food donation

Nom nom nom. If you were lucky enough to catch the Gastro Non Grata at the Modern during Art-a-Whirl, you know what deliciousness is in store. Tonight you’ll try samples of Rush River Brewing Company’s beer while chef Heather Hartman of Spoonriver offers a mushroom pate and Vietnamese Grilled Pork salad, then enjoy sweetness from Rogue Chocolatier. Oh, and p.s. -- Birthday Suits, His Mischief, Evening Rig, and our very favorite, Dreamland Faces are playing. ALL FOR $3!!!!!!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE GASTRO NON GRATA SITE

TUESDAY MAY 26TH

JagerCon: Sci-Fi Tuesdays

@ Clubhouse Jager923 Washington Avenue N.Minneapolis

Every Tuesday10 p.m. / 21+ / Free

Join hosts Kate Iverson (l'étoile magazine, Secrets of the City) and Beth Hammarlund (l'étoile magazine, A Tiny Machine) every Tuesday Night for JagerCon! JagerCon is a weekly sci-fi party featuring screenings of classic nerdy movies and television shows such as Buffy, Firefly, V, Star Trek, Blade Runner, Forbidden Planet and more -- topped off with 2-4-1 cocktails all night served by Star Captain Paul!

Mingle with like-minded sci-fi geeks, discuss D&D strategies, and use that Captain Picard impression you've been perfecting to pick up chicks at the bar. Snort-laugh the night away while bragging about your MMORPG addiction and enjoy a cozy, nerd-friendly environment.

Kate and Beth are life-long sci-fi fans who also dabble in art and fashion. They appreciate Joss Whedon, Karl Lagerfeld, and Matthew Barney on the same level. They can also party like Sci-Fi Conventioneers. Kate and Beth strive to unite the segmented nerd culture of the Twin Cities the only way they know how: with alcohol and awesome Sci-Fi entertainment.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

OMG! It's here! It's Art-A-Whirl Weekend, our FAVORITE time of year! The whole of Northeast Minneapolis will be a-buzz with artsy excitement x 100 all weekend long. This annual neighborhood-wide open studio crawl is the largest in the nation, with scads of buildings and hundreds of artists throwing open the doors to their work spaces and galleries to show off the amazing work they've been creating over the past year. Use this week's edition of l'étoile to plan your itinerary; you'll need to be organized to get the full experience, trust us. We've got the skinny on all the coolest special events, art parties, gallery openings and more. Pick up the official 2009 Art-A-Whirl catalog at info booths and buildings all over Northeast for a full listing of artists and a handy-dandy map that will help you traverse the art district with ease. Happy Arting!

BONUS: In un-Art-A-Whirl related news, we're giving away two pairs of tickets to Friday's Solid Gold show at 1st Avenue! See our Friday listing below on how to enter to win!

To see the rest of the pics from our AAW shoot and find out where you can see the art pictured, click HERE.Photo by Stephen Stephen's for l'étoile

THURSDAY MAY 14TH

Crank It

@ Club Jager 923 Washington Ave NMinneapolis

7pm-11pm / Free

Ok, Art-A-Whirl doesn't start until Friday, but that doesn't mean you can't have a lil' fun on Thursday. As if participating in the 300-mile Red Ribbon bike ride isn’t enough, Team Milkshake is also hosting tonight's silent auction for AIDS/HIV nonprofit organizations and research. Dance it up, bid on a treasure, and enjoy special performances by Audra Tracy, The North High Beaverettes and Jaime Carrera w/ MC Go Go Pimp Tif and DJs Ajent Orange and Brad Wrolstad.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR TEAM MILKSHAKE PAGE

ART-A-WHIRL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: ANTHEM HEART

Where would Twin Cities' fashion punks, streetwear junkies and hipsters be without the colorful apparel of design collective Anthem Heart? Thankfully, we don't have to think about that dark, alternate reality. With their recent explosion of popularity and success, it would almost take effort not to have noticed the screenprinting heart throbs of Anthem Heart. Born from the creative minds of Nick Ulrich, Dennis Evert and Ken Hannigan, AH has been a prominent force in the local fashion community, teaming up with poster artist and fellow screenprinter Mike Davis (of Burlesque of North America); creating commissioned designs for local superstar DJs The Moon Goons; interfacing with local boutiques Robot Love and Cliché; and rocking the runways of recent fashion shows, like Avoid the Grey where they collaborated with Voltage designer Maritza Ramirez. During this year's Art-A-Whirl, catch Anthem Heart in their studio (Q.arma Building, 1224 Quincy St. NE) for a live and interactive t-shirt printing process where they will be sharing another vibrant print that pays homage to our infamous city skyline. T-shirts will be selling for $8-15, or bring your own blank tee and get a homegrown print on it for only $5.

We met up with active Anthem Heart member and local DJ Ken Hannigan for a few deets on how it all started and future projects:

l'étoile: How did Anthem Heart come to be? Who is involved?

Ken Hannigan: Anthem Heart consists of Nick Ulrich, Dennis Evert and myself. We all met at the University of Wisconsin Stout in the early 2000s. Nick was the lead singer of a band called Regimen Rong. In 2005 and he came to me with an idea and a name for a clothing line to sell at his shows and to go on tour with. We learned quickly that we needed to print the line ourselves if we wanted to do have control over the process, so we bought a small used press and some screens. In short, the tour never materialized and we moved into a studio space on Lake and Lyndale and landed some printing accounts for a salon and some bands to pay the studio rent.

l'étoile: Your studio is in the Q.arma Building, what do you think about the communal vibe of the building and the Northeast art scene in general?

KH: We like it much better than being in the Calhoun Building in Lyn-Lake. Don't get me wrong I love Uptown and miss that rooftop, but the rent is cheaper here and you can't beat Art-a-Whirl!

l'étoile: Your design work has evolved a lot since we first met. How do you keep on top of trend while still maintaining originality?

KH: I am as much a consumer as anyone else. A lot of it has to do with music and blogs, although I should probably read more fashion blogs than I do. In a quest to do something different, I rejected small illustrative prints and began working with bigger more repetitive and geometric prints, many based on a framework of something appropriated. For our show at VS Social Standard we commissioned and licensed some designs from local heroes such as Mike Davis, Eric Inkala, and John Grider. There is still so much potential for the graphic T as a means of expression.

l'étoile: What's your favorite thing about Art-A-Whirl? And aside from your studio, what would you personally recommend people see?

KH: When we were chatting with the owner of the Q.arma Building and poised to sign the lease, he mentioned the company in the studio next to us were screen printers as well. It turned out to be some more friends from Stout - a pure coincidence! The company is called Lovely Mpls, so be sure to check them out when you come to visit us!

l'étoile: What will you be doing this Art-A-Whirl at the Anthem Heart studio?

KH: Remember that Minneapolis Skyline shirt we did last summer? This year we are doing an interactive homage to our beloved city. We will be printing live during Art-a-Whirl. Pick and choose from various screen stencils, shirt styles and colors to create your own version of this years' design. The t-shirts will be selling for $8-$15 depending on the t-shirt style. Or raid your closet for a blank t-shirt and we'll print on it for $5. The design is top secret until Friday, and the only way to get one is to visit our studio!

l'étoile: Where else can people purchase Anthem Heart Clothing?

KH: Cliche has been a huge supporter of ours from the beginning. Robot Love and VS Social Standard have given us great opportunities to showcase our work as well. All of our work is currently sold out or pulled from the retail shelves, and is available only at the studio for Art-A-Whirl. We've actually been working on a new online store for a couple years, off and on, but we are poised to relaunch Anthem Heart into the retail realm after our new website is actually ready.

Our besties at Secrets of the City and Jazz88 team up with the Mpls Photo Center and the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) for a special edition of Gallery Grooves! Come explore the extensive galleries of the beautiful photo center, spanning two floors. See the Pinhole Photography Exhibit as well as work by Mpls Photo Center members, plus bid on work from NEMAA artists in the silent auction. Enjoy refreshments, live music from cute folk-pop group Bla Bla Blacksheep (which features l'étoile's own Lacey Pripc-Hedtke and French jazz guru Robert Bell, and experience the good-time Art-A-Whirl vibe that will be taking over Northeast Minneapolis all weekend long!

Any seasoned Art-A-Whirlee knows that the Northrup King Building is THE biggest stop on the map. Over 150 professional artists inhabit this sprawling arts warehouse, where one can spend hours meandering and falling in love with piece after piece of fantastic art. Our favorite stop in the NKB is definitely the NEMAA Silent Auction, held each year in the 3rd floor gallery space (#332). See over 100 pieces of art by NEMAA member artists -- a vast representation of Northeast Artists all in one room. Not to mention, you can catch a deal on cool art AND support the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) -- as proceeds go to benefit this super awesome non-profit arts organization.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE NEMAA SITE

FRIDAY MAY 15TH (THROUGH SUNDAY)

More Is a Four Letter Word

@ Fox Tax 503 1st Ave. NEMinneapolis

Friday Reception 6-11 p.m./ FreeRegular AAW Hours Sat-Sun

“More” usually isn't a word grouped in the category of negative four-letter words, and believe us when we say we know just about all of them. But it seems these days when everyone is being entreated to want less, the desire to “want more” can leave us feeling just as helpless as a Dickens character. Exploring this concept, Fox Tax gallery proudly presents a show curated by mplsart.com's, Emma Berg, entitled More Is a Four Letter Word. The work from artists Tynan Kerr & Andie Mazorol, Zach Pearl, Alex Kuno, and Garrett Perry is an exhibit of sharp colors, bleak imagery and abstract pieces conveying the struggle for a balance between a healthy hunger for knowledge and power and one that is destructive. Tonight's opening reception is a must-see stop on your Art-A-Whirl tour. On view until June 15th.

More is a Four Letter Word will be open regular Art-A-Whirl hours throughout the weekend.

Seeing this show is one of our top Art-A-Whirl recommendations! l'étoile friend and cohort Ramon Muxter passed away in 2007. He left behind a legacy of amazing photographic work, as well as a notorious history that spanned from coast to coast. From the wilds of the West Bank to the shiny New York City art scene, Muxter's work equally captured the glitz and the grime. Off the cuff shots hint at epic stories, and stark imagery speaks honestly of the life and times of this artist and his unconventional cronies. See a number of his photos, borrowed from the personal collections of friends, along with written stories and observations from his subjects and pals (including l'étoile editor, Kate Iverson). The show will be open to the public over Art-A-Whirl weekend, but will also be open by appointment through June 13th by emailing shackway1@gmail.com.

CLICK THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE OF MUXTER'S WORK

FRIDAY MAY 15TH (THROUGH SUNDAY

Fleischer/ Nusz/ Stulen

@ SELLOUT Gallery 1500 Jackson St., Studio #456Minneapolis

Reception 7-10pm / Free Sat-Sun Regular Art-A-Whirl Hours

The anti-pretentious conceptual art space, SELLOUT gallery, kicks off their official 2009 exhibit schedule with new works from gallery founders, John Fleischer, Ruben Nusz and Scott Stulen. Featuring Fleischer's hybrid structures constructed from used materials; a haunting painting and sculpture series from Nusz, which revisits the drowning of actress, Natalie Wood; and an experimental examination of how disappointment shapes identity illustrated by Stulen's dinosaurs, rest stops and family vacation paintings. Not to mention, l'étoile has mad "talent crushes" on all three of these artists so you know it's good!

CLICK THE SELLOUT SITE

FRIDAY MAY 15TH (THROUGH SATURDAY)

Don’t Sleep On It / BRLSQOTHEQUE

@ California Building2205 California St NEMinneapolis

Kick-off: Friday, May 15, 6pmClosing: Saturday, May 16, 8pm

Budding artists are invited to embrace insomnia and bathe the walls of the California Building in paintings, drawings, collage, photos, and videos with help from a rotating list of local artists including Erik Burke, Mike Fitzsimmons, Andy Ducett, John Grider, Hardland/Heartland, Liz Miller, Kristina Mooney, Chris Pennington, Brett Smith, Erin Smith, and Scott Stulen in this 24-hour art making marathon. Stay awake with help from music provided by our pals from BRLSQOTHEQUE, who implore you to jam with them using your own flashing lights, cowbells, drumsticks, airhorns, shakers, glowsticks, and anything that lights up or makes noise. They even plan to fashion a massive mosaic mural made out of LP jackets!

Check out this promo video the Walker Teen Council did with absolute favorite artist collective, Hardland/Heartland:

The legend of the abandoned houseboat found floating down the Mississippi is a little clouded, but one thing is for certain: It makes for one hell of an art project. Survivalist Dennis "Kiddie" Cramer left behind all sorts of things on the boat - candles, gas-burning lamps, logbooks, journals, ceiling maps, self-defense weapons, Homeland Security instructions and a bunch of other useless crap. Creative Electric Studios transformed the houseboat into an interactive gallery, debuting it at last year’s Art-A-Whirl. This year, Creative Electric invites you to take a strange voyage on the SS Infinite Regress. For a $5 donation, visitors will be asked to don a white hazmat suit (provided) and walk amongst video-projected walls, a mirrored room, and other bizarre spectacles. Add in some live music on a free floating raft, and you’ve got a truly unique Art-A-Whirl experience not to be missed.

The musical line up beginning Friday at dusk will include Gay Witch Abortion and Knife World; Saturday music will run all day featuring an acoustic coffee time set by Jon Olson & Caveman, Adam Wirtzfeld & friends in the afternoon, and White Map and Allison LaBonne of the Owls at dusk. Sample Room will be hosting a BBQ at the docks, $5 gets you A Beer and A Brat!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE CREATIVE ELECTRIC SITE

FRIDAY MAY 15TH (THROUGH SUNDAY)

Who Made Who Open Studio

@ Who Made Who158 13th Avenue NEMinneapolis

Friday 5-10pm / Saturday 12-8pm / Sunday 12-5pm

l’étoile fave Miss Amy Jo is the kind of rockstar artist that most people only dream of being. One of the leading ladies of the burgeoning rock poster world, Amy Jo has carved out her niche creating pieces that are daring, visually arresting graphic exclamation points for musicians as varied as Of Montreal, Joan Jett, and the Melvins. If you've paid even the slightest attention to the local music scene these past several years, you've undoubtedly seen some of her work. Make a pit stop at the storefront gallery she shares with fellow artists Tooth and Lonny Unitus for a sampling of limited edition silk-screened posters, fine art prints, handmade merchandise including greeting cards, calendars, books, t-shirts, stickers, and toys. They’re even offering a sweet raffle and delicious mini cupcakes!

Woot, woot! Party on Johnson Street! Friday night, watch Lady Hard On and Noise Quean Ant play for the Zak Sally art opening, then stick around for the Muppet Movie screening in the parking lot! On Saturday and Sunday, 35+ craft and art vendors hawk their wares like gypsies on the streets, accompanied by live music, kids activities and plenty of yummy food!

An accumulation of painting, sculpture, photography, craft and mixed media collage is on show at Accumulated Objects’ new gallery. Work by Sherri Dahl, Aaron Hinkel, Ric Hinkel, and James Jones keeps you company while you snack, sip wine and listen to music.

Artspace Projects and The Grain Belt Artists present a free multimedia event featuring resident and guest artists working in film, music, performance art, painting, mixed media, clay, sculpture and photography. See the work all weekend long but be sure to pop in Friday night for the official opening reception, with live music until Midnight!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE NEMAA SITEArt by Lynn Speaker

FRIDAY MAY 15TH (THROUGH SATURDAY)

Art-A-Whirl at Stasiu's

@ Stasiu's Place2500 University Ave NEMinneapolis

Friday 10 p.m. / $5 / 21+Saturday 10 p.m. / $5 / 21+

You’ll get more than your daily required dose of art this weekend, but what about your music needs? Stasiu's has it covered. You don’t even have to leave the neighborhood to rock. Thanks Stasiu's!

Friday 10 p.m.: The Hostages, Bastard Sons Of Bukowski And Little IrvySaturday 10 p.m.: Buildings, Nina And The Pinta, Red Daughter And Power Of 2

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE STASIU'S MYSPACE

FRIDAY MAY 15TH (THROUGH SUNDAY)

Art-A-Whirl at the 331 Club

@ The 331 Club331 13th Ave NEMinneapolis

All Weekend / Free

This Art-A-Whirl weekend, Northeast’s favorite bar the 331 club is going balls out with weekend long of festivities assembling the some of the local music scene’s best bands. Kicking things off on Friday night are Daughters of the Sun, Sicbay, and France Has The Bomb. Saturday, beginning at noon and running all the live long day will be Lookbook, Mystery Palace, One For The Team, Skoal Kodiak, and Lucy Michele & Velvet Lapelles. Moving the party inside at 9pm, All the Pretty Horses and Luther the Devil will wrap things up. Sounds like a pretty spectacular bash to us!

BONUS: Our pals at Vita.mn have commissioned local artists Marshall LaCount and Tynan Kerr to create a 12-panel mural that will cover the University Ave wall of the 331 Club where it will stand for the year until next Art-a-Whirl! Stop by during the day on Saturday to see the artists creating their masterpiece, live!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE 331 CLUB SITE

FRIDAY MAY 15TH

Solid Gold w/ Lookbook

@ First Avenue701 1st Ave NMinneapolis

8pm / 18+ / $10

So this post is not exactly Art-A-Whirl related but we just can't help but give mad props to one of our fave local bands who are on their way to top! Like a rite of passage into the big leagues, Solid Gold will play their first ever headlining show at the big daddy of local clubs, First Avenue this Friday night with openers Lookbook. Poised for a national breakthrough, electro-pop trio Solid Gold continues to ride high on the wave of success brought by the release of their debut album Bodies of Water. See them rock out the tunes you’ve been humming along to on the Current, and be a part of this truly exciting local happening. And if you’re still on the fence, their sexy cover of Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game should be reason enough to get you in the door.

Hey, we’re so excited we’re giving away 2 pairs of tickets to the show! Send us your favorite Solid Gold experience or story about the band and not only will you get on the old guest list, we’ll also publish your tale right here on ye olde L’etoile blog next week! E-mail kate@letoilemagazine.com with your story AND your e-mail and phone number to be entered to win. Winners will be contact early Friday afternoon.

BONUS: Don’t forget to hop up to the VIP after the show for Honeymoon, providing you with party rockin’ beats to dance until the wee hours of the night. RSVP for a $3 admission.

The always-rockin' Q.arma Building boasts 30 artists, spanning 3 floors! See sculpture, woodcarving, painting, drawing, photography, ceramics, architecture, and more. Stop in to see our pals at Altered Esthetics Gallery, where the "I Heart Northeast" show is currently on display, or head up to the second floor to score a limited edition screen printed "Minneapolis" shirt from Anthem Heart. Live music will rock the parking lot all day on both Friday and Saturday, including some of our local faves Quist and the Hats (Friday 6:15pm) and The Nightinghales (Saturday 5:45pm). See live bronze casting by Yarbi Design in the yard on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.; or see woodwork artist Kevin Showell do a live chainsaw carving from 2 p.m.. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Stick around after dark on Saturday night for movies projected on the wall in the yard, grilled treats and a raging bonfire.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE Q.ARMA SITEPrint of Q.arma Building by Adam Turman

SATURDAY MAY 16TH (THROUGH SUNDAY)

Svedberg Studio

@ 3359 Tyler Street NENortheast Minneapolis

Saturday Noon to 8 p.m. Sunday Noon to 5 p.m.

This off the beaten path must-see is not a gallery, nor is it a warehouse art studio -- it's the home of artist Laurie Svedberg. One of the most bright and sassy ladies we've had the pleasure of meeting, Svedberg's home mirrors her colorful personality to a T. This story-book property is surrounded by greenery and eccentricities that scream ART LIVES HERE, loud and clear. Filled with a myriad of murals, hand painted furniture pieces and odd ball objects de art, this unique spot and its inhabitant are one of a kind, and definitely worth the short trek off beyond the Art District's borders.

The Pictures/ Film/ Sound exhibit is exactly what the name implies - a multimedia exhibit featuring photos by Stephanie Colgan and Edison High School students, a film screening of animated shorts, and live DJ set from Estate, plus performances from Aby Wolf and The Idle Hands. Feel free to browse the other Casket studios including a “Sculpting with Chemistry” and Dollmaking demonstration in the Carriage House, but be sure to stick around. The Casket Arts Silo Outdoor Rock Show starts at 8pm with sets from local bands Poor Weather Club and Marvelle.

The Historic Thorpe Building brings a whole new meaning to elevator music. Since Art-A-Whirl began, the Thorpe Building has presented local singers in their freight elevator. This year the tradition continues with a variety of diverse performances presented by founder Mean Larry, beginning at noon on Saturday and continuing all day. Seating is limited but the sound carries throughout the building, so while you are buying art you can hear folks like Slim Dunlap, Robert Wilkinson, Craig Teiken, Stacy K, Alicia Corbett, Molly Maher, Gabe Barnett, Mean Larry and more.

Can’t make it? Freight Sessions Radio Show can be heard Sunday May 10th 6pm on KFAI 90.3 / 106.7fm, hosted by Mean Larry with very special guest Stacy K performing in the studio, as well as performances recorded in the freight elevator.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE THORPE WEBSITE

SATURDAY MAY 16TH

Grumpy's NE Art-A-Whirl Party

@ Grumpy's NE 2200 4th St. NEMinneapolis

Noon – 10pm / Free

There's nothing like a pre-bash of liquor and local tunes to get you in the mood for a night of Art-A-Whirl-ing. Join NE hot spot, Grumpy's as they celebrate AAW the best way they know how – with an all-day party! Featuring a neighborhood barbecue and a live, “artsy” musical showcase with sets from Guzzard, Gay Witch Abortion, Awesome Snakes, Lady Hard On, Bastard Saint, and tons more. Today's shindig is guaranteed to get you pumped for arting!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE GRUMPY'S SITE

SATURDAY MAY 16TH (THROUGH SUNDAY)

Big Shots

@ The Lab Thorp Building1620 Central Ave. NE, Suite 130 Minneapolis

Noon-8pm / Free

Eric Recktenwald knows that to make a big impact sometimes you need to stop, collaborate and listen. For this exhibit, Recktenwald (owner of the digital imaging/ print studio, The Lab), has elicited the help of 20 of the top local photographers to create an exhibit of photographic prints that are as largely noteworthy as they are in literal size. Displayed on paper, canvas and metal, the prints will range from 30''x40'' to 60''x90'' and feature many never-before-seen images. The exhibiters include Tom Arndt, Laura Crosby, Mike Dvorak, Vance Gellert, David Goldes, Stewart Klipper, Colin Kopp, Chris Larson, Anthony Marchetti, Scott Nedrelow, Justin Newhall, Steve Ozone, Josh Quigley, Paul Shambroom, Mickey Smith, Sean Smuda, Alec Soth, Angela Strassheim, Katherine Turczan, JoAnn Verburg. Yes, REALLY. Can't get down to The Lab tonight? The studio will be open to the public on Sunday as well, from noon to 5 p.m.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE LAB SITE

SATURDAY MAY 16TH

Rock Show and Live Art

@ Casket Arts Building681 17th Ave NEMinneapolis

8pm / Free

Local bands Poor Weather Club and Marvelle rock the Casket with their electric violin, bass and drums while canvas painter Linnea Doyle makes live art. Real! Live! See it here!

EXTRA: The Casket Arts Building, which houses dozens of artists, will also be open to the pubic throughout Art-A-Whirl Weekend!

The Rogue Buddha and l'étoile magazine invite you to celebrate Art-A-Whirl with us! Saturday's reception will feature delicious food from Chowgirls as well music from Michael Cina and jamespatrick. As the Rogue Buddha Gallery celebrates its 10th year of business, we are proud to sponsor this exhibit of three artists whose work captures the spirit of the RBG and whose artistic maturity, not unlike the Rogue Buddha itself, has come to fruition. See the amazing work of Michael Thomsen, Kyle Fokken, and gallery owner Nicholas Harper -- three of our absolute favorites!

Sponsored by l'étoile magazine

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ROGUE BUDDHA SITE

SATURDAY MAY 16TH

Let's Dance

@ Red Stag509 1st Avenue NEMinneapolis

11pm / 21+ / Free

There's plenty for you to do this Art-A-Whirl weekend, but after a long day of bustling around Northeasy, take a load off at the Red Stag for Familia Skate Shop’s monthly throw-down Let’s Dance. You know the deal - Millions Billions and Tendercakes will be holding down the tables all night, playing all your favorite crunk hits. So tell a friend to tell some friends to come down and get down. Expect food and drink specials dancing, singing, high-fiving, kissing and general shenanies.

BONUS: Head down to the Stag early for an Art Car workshop in the parking lot!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE RED STAG SITE

ART-A-WHIRL BUILDING SPOTLIGHT: CALIFORNIA BUILDING

It's hard to imagine the NE Arts District as anything other than the central and respected hub of the local art scene, but before the plethora of studios popped up, there was a building that started it all – the California Building. A former grain mill turned studio space, the California Building is known as the first art building in the NE neighborhood and has been home to a diversified group of local artists since the 1980s, including the 80 artists who currently call the building home.This weekend make the historic California Building a necessary stop on your Art-A-Whirl tour! Some highlight's this year at the Cali Building include the much buzzed about Walker Teen Art Council's "Don't Sleep On It" 24-Hour art making extravaganza; visiting artist Sean Smuda, whose commissioned portraits for Minneapolis Mosaic will make their debut this weekend; and any and all of the numerous artists of all shapes, sizes, and mediums that you'll find while exploring this historic arts building!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING SITE

SUNDAY MAY 17TH

Gastro Non Grata

@ The Modern Cafe Parking Lot337 13th Ave NEMinneapolis

11am-6pm / Free

It’s Sunday Funday, Art-A-Whirl style! The insanely popular food and music themed affair Gastro Non Grata will be invading the parking lot behind the Modern Café for a day long celebration packed with pig roasting, art showing, beer drinking, rocking out and getting tan! The musical entertainment will include the symphonic stylings of Les Ourses, the Modern Café's own That’s What You Get, followed by the brooding noise of Hunting Club. To put a rock cherry on the top of this music sundae, hard chargin' Private Dancer and free-wheeling Chooglin' will see if they can't muster up a noise complaint or two before the sun sets. Two Brothers Brewing will be on hand to sample beer with the crowd, and St. Paul wine distributor Bourget Imports will supply the wine to pair with the swine, making this event a true grand finale to the biggest and best Art-A-Whirl weekend yet.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR GASTRO NON GRATA MYSPACE

SUNDAY MAY 17TH

Sean Smuda and Jacob Gossel Opening

@ Barbette1600 W. Lake StreetUptown Minneapolis

3 p.m. to 6 p.m. / Free

If you feel the urge to escape Northeast, and are in the mood for french fries with a side of awesome art, head to Uptown's Barbette! Hot photog Sean Smuda and graf maestro Jacob Gossel share the wall space this month, so get thee to Barbette for a relaxing afternoon of complimentary apps, good conversation, and a few glasses of vino with the artists and their lovely curator, Teri Anvid!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BARBETTE SITE

ART-A-WHIRL FASHION GUIDE

We all know MNfashion Week ended a few weeks ago and that Art-A-Whirl is all about the art. But here at l’étoile, we like to think that the things we wear can be art, too. Northeast happens to be home to many of the Twin Cities’ artwear designers. We’ve compiled a list of l’étoile-approved clothing and jewelry designers opening their studios this weekend for your convenience. Happy shopping!

Clothing

Cat House Fashions

Cat House Fashions will be hosting an open house and fashion show featuring their one-of-a-kind, DIY-styled clothing and accessories at their Quincy Street studio. The line’s designers Greta Herman and Saira Huff are longtime staples of the underground fashion community, but occasionally appear above the radar. The duo joined up in 2006 when Herman began helping Huff sew the tour costumes for FAGGOT (in which Huff plays bass), and the rest was history. Fashion show: 7 p.m. Sat. Quincy Street Studios, 1330 Quincy St. NE. 4th floor, Mpls.

Anthem Heart

L’etoile BFFs Anthem Heart have been experimenting with live screen-printing their original t-shirt designs over the past year, and now they’re taking it a step further. You can select your own print, t-shirt style and color, and for a mere $8-15, you can have your own one-of-a-kind Anthem Heart shirt. Better yet, you can bring in a shirt of your own and they’ll print on it for 5 bucks. Anthem Heart collaborator Forest Bash will be showing his latest art and DJ Real Talk Radio will provide stylish beats throughout the weekend.

Betty Scagnetti’s line of one-of-a-kind clothing made from artfully-combined, re-purposed vintage fabrics will be selling her spring line at her Northrup King studio. The designer currently sells her line at Design Collective and her etsy shop, but expect to run across some pieces that aren’t available anywhere else.

Find hand-knit yoga wear, casual tops and dresses by eco-friendly line Foat Design. Owned by sisters Kaja and Zoe Foat, both trained yoga instructors, the line has been evolving since its earliest inception in 2002. Since then they’ve sold their line at Design Collective and added a more sophisticated off-shoot of their line, Foat Couture.

The recently-expanded Rewind Vintage will be open per usual, as well as participating in the annual Johnstock! flea market this weekend. Owner Sarah Hoese tells us that the store will be having its grand opening soon, but in the meantime be sure to swing by and check out their amazing selection of vintage accessories and expertly-edited ‘70s and ‘80s-era clothing.

Duct tape accessories may not seem like anything new, but chances are that Carly Stipe was making them before anyone else. The designer, who once created prom looks out of duct tape for an Anna Lee-produced fashion show at the Walker, will be selling her eclectic assortment of duct tape accessories throughout the weekend, including brightly-colored handbags, clutches, wallets, and hair accessories.

Jewelry designer Karin Jacobson and handbag designer Adrienne Grahn – both of whom were featured in Voltage 2009 – are opening their studios up to sell their latest offerings, including their Voltage lines as well as the fringed leather cuffs, necklaces and anklets Grahn created for the recent kjurek couture solo show.

To get all your jewelry needs covered in one studio, check out the open house of five local metalsmiths. Emily Johnson of EC Design, Britta Lynn Design, 3 Jäg Design, Susan Frerichs Metalworks, and Rare Bird Jewelry will be selling their metal-cast, organic-inspired designs. Johnson tells us she’ll be taking 30-50% off her discontinued items, in addition to showing her latest collection.

A studio opening at Robyne Robinson’s jewelry studio is always full of a who’s-who of the Minneapolis arts crowd, so Art-A-Whirl should be no different. She’ll be selling her latest pieces for her line ROX, which includes the jeweled cuff bracelets she created for Voltage and necklaces, bracelets and earrings made from bold, semi-precious stones and sterling silver. California Building, 2205 California St. NE. #403, Mpls. www.roxmpls.com

Johnstock Crafters

Finally, be sure to swing by the aforementioned Johnstock! for its flea market-style craft fair, which features handmade goods from 40+ crafters and designers. Our top picks: Lilluxe’s bold baubles crafted from vintage jewelry into new and modernized combinations, and hand-knit sock monkey-adorned kids stuff by Hazel and Melvin’s Room – it’s so cute we want to buy the stuff even though we don’t have kids of our own! (10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun. Free.

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